Congas y Comparsas "Ayer y Hoy" - Cuba - N.Y.C .

'Las Sultanas'
Members of the Comparsa 'Las Sultanas'
 from La Habana in 1954.

'Las Sultanas'
Members of the Comparsa 'Las Sultanas'
 from La Habana in 1948, '49

"Congas Y Comparsas Del Carnaval Habanero"
Panart 1959

With the bands of Carlos Barberia' y Kubavana
& Alberto Zayas' y Su Grupo Afro Cubano.

I'm partial to the cuts with 'Alberto Zayas' y Su Grupo Afro Cubano as he has two trumpet players one of them is the great Oscar "Floresita" Velasco O'farrill taking several trumpet solos and several Bongo solos taken by who to me sounds like Rogelio "Yeyito" Iglesias.
The coros in the Zayas band are always excellent and the use of tuba for the bass parts in the arrangements are great.

5. Las Jardineras
Comp: A. Zayas
Alberto Zayas' y Su Coro Folklórico
Trumpet: "Floresita", bongoes: "Yeyito"
(Tuba playing the bass lines)

8. Los Marqueses De Atares 
Alberto Zayas' y Su Coro Folklórico
Floresita trades with the other trumpet player

10. Por Que Te Pones Asi
Comp: A. Zayas
Carlos Embale in the coro

(Tuba playing the bass lines)

12. Conga A Cecilia Valdes
Comp: Gonzalo Roig.
Alberto Zayas' y Su Coro Folklórico

Listen closely at the very end, you'll

hear Carlos Embale singing.

 "Comparsas Cubanas"
Justi Barreto  
Recorded in N.Y.C. 1969

"Papaito" Muñoz 
 plays quinto on several tracks.

Julito Collazo  
plays Bombo.

Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros
plays trumpet.

2. Yayabo

4. Las Sultanas

6. Las Bolleras

7. Vaya Simon

"Carnaval En Santiago"

Egrem

An excellent LP on the Egrem label featuring the Comparsa groups: 'San Augustin', 'Los Hoyos', 'Paso Franco',
'Folklórico Del Puerto', 'Herredia', 'La Kimona',
'La Placita', 'Textileros', and 'La Carabalí'.
Even though the title says "En Santiago", the style of the carnaval rhythm "Conga" alternates between contrasting Havana styles and Santiago styles.
With superb Havana trumpet alternating with the Santiago "Corneta China"("trumpeta China")

This record was produced by Enrique Bonne, percussionist from Santiago, former timbale player with Pacho Alonso and father of Timba singer Ángel Bonne.

7. Con Su Pin Pin Pin

(Conga de Santiago De Cuba)

 

4. Poupurrit  Carabalí

8. Mirala Que Linda Viene

Conga Habanera

LP's: "Cuba Baila" - "Carnaval 1960-61"- Cuba

"Cuba Baila"
Vinyl LP/LD
This LP sold on Ebay 9/27/09 for $356.01 Odilio Luis Esteban Urfé

Enrique Jorrin

An excellent project organized by both Enrique Jorrin and Odilio Urfe, with arrangements by both of them.
Early 1960's vinyl LP on I.C.A.I.C.
Several featuring the masterful and highly stylistic trumpet playing of Oscar "Florecita" Velasco O'Farrill .
I used Goldwave V.5 to "trim" the beginnings and ends of each track and also slightly clean the surface sound.

3. "Conga Del Senador"
Comp: Ignacio Piñiero
Trumpet: Oscar "Florecita" Velasco O'Farrill

4. "Donde Va Maria" 
Trumpet: Oscar "Florecita" Velasco O'Farrill
Flute: Juan Pablo Miranda

6. "Bilongo"
Trumpet: Oscar "Florecita" Velasco O'Farrill

8. "Rumba"
Trumpet: Oscar "Florecita" Velasco


"Carnaval 1960 - 61"
Vinyl LP/LD
This LP sold on Ebay 9/27/09 for $109.50

Another 1961 vinyl LP on I.C.A.I.C. with the great band and "Coro Folklórico" of Alfredo "Alfredito" Zayas.
Featuring singers: Merceditas Valdes, Pio Leiva, Omara Portuondo and Pacho Alonso all of their voices in 1960 and 1961 were in their prime.
Alfredo Zayas and his Coro Folklórico, his drummers and trumpet section are superb.
All songs using post 1959 revolutionary themes.
(education, agrarian reform, liberty etc.)

1. "Año De La Educacion"
Conj. Alberto Zayas y su Coro Folklórico
Vocal: Mereceditas Valdes

5. "Carnaval De La Habana"
Conj. Alberto Zayas y su Coro Folklórico

Vocal: Pio Leiva
 
7. "Escuchen Las Tumbadoras"
Conj. Alberto Zayas y su Coro Folklórico
Vocal: Pacho Alonso

8. "Mi Comparsa"
Conj. Alberto Zayas y su Coro Folklórico
Vocal: Omara Portuondo

10. "Carnaval Con Libertad"
Conj. Alberto Zayas y su Coro Folklórico
Vocal: Mereceditas Valdes


Vinyl LP sold on Ebay $107.50

Alberto / Alfredito Zayas Y Su Grupo Folkorico - 1959 Cuba

"Afro-Frenetic" was later reissued on the

American 'Capitol' record label as "Hi-Fi Cuban Drums" 
For me, the "Afro-Frenetic" standout tracks are
the Abakúa #3 "Aseré" and #6 "Yenguelé Maria".

Yenguelé Maria

"Guaguanson"
The Alberto Zayas classic 1959 Panart LP.
Never reissued.

Alberto Zayas wrote 10 out 12 songs.
This features the beautiful singing style and voice
of Manolo Furé he sings lead on most of this LP,

Manuel 'Manolo' Furé

2. Ponte Saya Colora 
Manolo Furé: lead vocal

7. Pa' la mar serena
Manolo Furé: coro

8. Mayari Monte Adentro
Manolo Furé: lead vocal
(Zayas sings once briefly before the tres solo)

11. Cumayé
Manolo Furé: lead vocal


* * * * *
Cayetano Baila
Manolo Furé with Los Hermanos Castro.
Manolo Furé: lead vocal

La Timba
Manolo Furé with Tony Tejera y su Conjunto
Manolo Furé: lead vocal

Alberto Zayas was a singer as well as prolific composer and interpreter of 'Rumbas' and 'Sones'.
Born in Matanzas, Cuba Feb. 14 1908, died in *Guanabacoa in1983.
*Guanabacoa was the first place to have an African "Cabildo" in Havana.
His family moved to La Habana when he was one year old.
He began singing at age 14.
He also worked and collaborated often with musicologist & author, 'Fernando Ortiz' as a music consultant when it came to presenting authentic Cuban folkloric music/s.

Superb tres playing especially the solos on 7. "Pa'la Mar Serena" & 8. Mayari Monte Adentro", Saxophone on tracks 2 & 10, Nice 'Marimbula' played by Zayas himself on track 12 and some very tasty piano solos. The bongo playing style is simple and pure Cuban art.

The most beautiful thing about this classic LP..... is the singing, the sweetest, prettiest harmonies you'll ever hear. This was one of my fathers favorite LPs... I remember first hearing this when I was 7 or 8 years old. Of the two LPs, "Guaguanson" is my favorite.

This is Cuban music "free" & "unpolluted" by American rap, funk and Be-Bop"

I've painstakingly "cleaned" & "trimmed" both vinyl's with
'Goldwave V.5' Both ripped from original vinyl LP's.
"Afredito" Zayas is 'Alberto Zayas'.
'John Amira' has told me he believes the musican on the back cover wearing the straw hat & playing the Bata drum to be a young 'Mario Jauaregui'.

Profiles in greatness: 'Florecita' Oscar Velasco O'Farrill - "Selected works"

'Florecita'
1938

Cuarteto Hatuey
1930's
Left to right:
Armando Dulfo, Evelio Machín,
Francisco "Compay Segundo" Repilado
Top: 'Florecita'

'Florecita' with El Conjunto Arsenio Rodriguez
1951
'Florecita' with El Conjunto Arsenio Rodriguez
1956

Lately I've been listening to a lot of music that has 'Florecita' playing trumpet, it is most often Felix Chappottin and Alfredo 'Chocolate' Armenteros who get all the attention and notoriety and they absolutely deserve it, as they are both uniquely great "Cuban trumpet stylists".
But rarely is the uniquely stylized trumpet playing of Oscar Velasco O'Farrill a.k.a. 'Florecita' given recognition.

There is a well known "music critic" who has stated: "Felix Chappottin was the Louis Armstrong of Cuba", I disagree, if arguably any comparison may be made to a "Cuban Louis Armstrong"... the title would be better associated with Oscar Velasco O'Farrill.
'Florecita' was older then Chocolate, older then Felix Chappottin, a generation before both of them.
It is common to hear trumpet players in Cuba "quote" or play like Chappottin and it is also common to hear trumpet players who are influenced by Alfredo 'Chocolate' Armenteros.

But you never hear anyone sound like, play like, or imitate 'Florecita', as he had a style and a sound totally unique and "soulfully Cuban".

Listen to Chappottin's early playing and the influence of 'Florecita' is clearly apparent. 
There are many great trumpet players who were/are incredible "stylists": Enrique Hernández, Lazaro “El Jabao” Herrera, Juanito Rodger, Armando "El Gorilla" Albertini , Chappottin, Alfredo 'Chocolate' Armenteros, "El Guajiro" Mirabal, Gilberto Azcuy... all fabulous players within the "Son tipico" style, as opposed to El Negro" Vivar's "Cuban jazz" style or Julio Cuevas who I like and have always thought of as the Cuban Harry James.
But..... for me, 'Florecita' Oscar Velasco O'Farrill was "the Man".

There are other posts on this blog that have 'Florecita'

playing, but this post has some "selected works" that you can

distinctly hear Oscar Velasco O'Farrill's "style" and "sound".

With Arsenio Rodriguez y Su Conjunto
Me Dijo Que Sí Y Le Dije Que No 1951
'Florecita' short trumpet solo

With Arsenio Rodriguez y Su Conjunto
Guaragüí 1951
'Florecita' short trumpet solo

With Arsenio Rodriguez y Su Conjunto
Avaca De Maíz 1956
Comp: Silvano Shueg
'Florecita' : short trumpet solo near end

With Arsenio Rodriguez y Su Conjunto
Dame Tu Yoyo Ma Belen 1956 
'Florecita' : 3 short trumpet solos


* * * * *

 With Alberto Zayas' y Su Grupo
Las Jardineras
'Florecita' : short trumpet solo
Bongoes: Rogelio 'Yeyito' Iglesias


* * * * *

With Cheo Marquetti
Fuegos En Los Bomberos
'Florecita' : short trumpet solo.
Coro: Carlos Embale

With Cheo Marquetti
Hay Comentario
'Florecita' : two short trumpet solos.


* * * * *

With Miguelito Cuní & Niño Rivera
El Diablo Tun Tun
'Florecita' : Trumpet
Contradiccion
'Florecita' : Trumpet

With Miguelito Cuní & Niño Rivera
Con Amor Todo Se Olvida
'Florecita' : Trumpet

With Miguelito Cuní and Niño Rivera
Convergencia
'Florecita' : Trumpet

With Miguelito Cuní and Niño Rivera
Lo Mismo
'Florecita' : Trumpet

With Miguelito Cuní & Niño Rivera
Donde Va Chichi
'Florecita' : Trumpet


* * * * *

From Festival In Havana
Ignacio Piñeiro: arranger/leader
Tumbando Caña 
 'Florecita' : Trumpet

From Festival In Havana
La Chambelona 
'Florecita' : Trumpet

From Festival In Havana
Tumba La Caña 
'Florecita' : Trumpet


* * * * *

With Enrique Jorrin and Odilio Urfé
Conga Del Senador
'Florecita' : Trumpet

Donde Va Maria 
'Florecita' : Trumpet

Bilongo
'Florecita' : Trumpet

Rumba
'Florecita' : Trumpet


Video of "Florecita" Here